~*~
"Hot chocolate?"
Remy's voice snapped Theo out of staring at the flames in the fire place and he turned to look at his twin.
"Do you remember when we saw Father Christmas?" he asked with a smile.
Remy grinned back.
"When he disappeared up the chimney just as we got there," Remy said fondly, "and our stockings magically appeared next to the tree?"
Theo nodded and looked over at their slightly smaller tree. It was tradition that Rupert always decorated the tree and the magic users in the house then lit it and it sparkled as brightly as Daisy's trees always had. Remy liked to go overboard with the glitter, but, in this at least, Theo couldn't fault his twin.
"I was terrified I had ruined Christmas for you," Remy said and held out a mug of hot chocolate to him.
"I know," he replied, "I could tell."
"But the presents appeared anyway," Remy said, smiling as if recalling all the details.
"It was one of the best Christmases ever," he said, remembering how he had fallen asleep by the fire after they had all opened their stockings.
He had woken later back in bed and had to hurry to be ready for Church. All the children at the service had been amazed by the tale of their close encounter with Father Christmas.
"Daisy must have arranged the whole thing," he said and took a sip of his drink.
"Of course she did, I had been babbling on about seeing Father Christmas for days," Remy replied with a laugh. "She must have used her in with the big Father C."
Theo laughed and saluted his twin with his mug.
"To friends and family," he said, looking back into the fire, "those still with us and those watching us from beyond."
"To friends and family," Remy echoed and moved to stand close beside him. "Merry Christmas one and all."
Stockings - Two Haward Mysteries Christmas Short Stories Page 2